Rabobank Hockey World Cup 2014
A total of 432 world’s best men and women hockey players forming 24 teams from 15 participating nations are at Kyocera Stadium in The Hague, the Netherlands in a quest to emerge as the best hockey teams (male and female) in the world.
The Rabobank Hockey World Cup, one of the biggest tournaments in the hockey calendar is underway from May 31st to June 15th this year.
Held every four years between Olympic cycles, this Hockey World Cup at The Hague is only the second time in its history where both men’s and women’s tournaments are hosted concurrently. A total of 76 matches will be played over these 16 days.
The first time both tournaments were held at the same time in the same venue was in 1998 in Utrecht, also in the Netherlands.
Hockey is not only a major sport for the entire family in the Netherlands, it is also a well-loved sport the world over. Rabobank Hockey World Cup is expected to attract 525 million viewers around the globe; 400 million of them via television broadcasts in 80 countries across five continents.
Additionally, matches will also be live streamed over the internet and accessed in 192 countries.
Throughout these 16 days of Hockey World Cup, over 250,000 fans from Holland and abroad are expected to pour through the gates at the Hockey Park, filling both the Kyocera and Greenfields Stadiums. Tickets for the whole tournament have already been sold out.
The opening match on May 31st was between Australia and Malaysia in Group A of the men’s tournament, where Australia, the defending champions won 4 – nil. The last time Malaysia played in the World Cup was in 2002, where the team qualified by virtue of being the host country. They finished in eighth position then.
Meanwhile, in the much improved women’s hockey, Argentina are trying to retain their crown, beating South Africa 4-1 in their first match.
The photos that I am enclosing in today’s post are from my visits to Kyocera and Greenfields Stadiums during Rabobank Hockey World Cup 2014. Check out the atmosphere. The Dutch definitely do know how to put on a party!
Event: Rabobank Hockey World Cup 2014
Venue: The Hague, Netherlands
Date: 31st May – 15th June, 2014
Time: from 10.30am
Note: View larger images by clicking on an image once this page has completely loaded. Then navigate by clicking on the right or left side of image.
